Structure analysis of Au-containing cuprate of Au1+xBa2Ca2Cu3-xO9 (Au-1223)

Single crystals of Au1+xBa2Ca2Cu3-xO9 (Au-1223) were grown at 6 GPa and 1325degreesC. This phase is the third member of the Au-containing cuprate family of AuBa2Can-1CunO2n+3 and shows a weak signal of superconductivity. The crystal structure was refined to R I (I > 2sigma(I)) = 0.0188 and wR2 = 0.0485 with F-2 data. The Au-1223 phase crystallizes in the space group Pmmm (no. 47), a = 3.8119(l) Angstrom, b = 3.8556(l) Angstrom, c = 15.4431(5) Angstrom, Z = 1. Partial substitution of Au for Cu in the CuO2 planes was revealed. The An incorporation to the conduction layers may be a reason for the suppression of superconductivity in Au-1223. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science BN. All rights reserved.